Stuck in the Middle

It was pointed out to me by someone most awesome that if I want to get my name out there knitting wise I *kind of* need to blog a bit more.

Well, at the moment I am swamped in knitting, I didn't get all the ones I wanted done before Christmas which was really disappointing. Only because I just took on too much and didn't really prioritise properly. So University had to come first for a wile. In my dream future I'd love to be able to make a living off knitting but until I get my degree sorted it will have to come second.

So this is a sort of halfway blog at the moment, I've been knitting some things inbetween so I shall be posting pictures up soon!

I had a lovely Christmas, got some lovely lovely yarn and made a shrug out of it and it's my favourite thing to wear at the moment so it shall take pride of place. I'm in the process of knitting a tweed tie for a friend, another shrug (for myself) a hat and scarf pokemon theme set, several totoro hats, star wars stuff and a wrap top with the periodic table on it for the awesome Katie who came up with the name for me (Shortt Stitches)

Actually there is one project I haven't mentioned which I completed last year. For the Karmageddon event (Join Me founded by Danny Wallace) me and Crazy Dave had a yarn off where he would crochet and I would knit a Danny Wallace Doll and see who won the most for charity! He won but he also cheated and bought the doll I knitted cause he loved it (bless) I was superbly drunk that night and told him off profusely!

Anyhoo, I didn't take many picture of my knitted doll but I found one that Dave took over new years

looks like he's having a ball with his new owner!

So that is it for a couple days but I hope to get lots of proper pictures up soon :)

Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you,
And I'm wondering what it is I should do,
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face,
Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place,
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

In Rainbows

This is a little pattern I made one day when I was super bored. It's some fingerless mittens that match a scarf my grandad gave me.


I had loads of yarn I'd never used, it was made from simple acrylic yarn and keeps my fingers quite warm!


I've had quite an awesome month of knitting, the awesome Gabby Young featured all her stall holders at her album launch - that was so much fun knitting for and I hope there are more chances in the future.


This pattern is also for the charity p-hop that are getting pattern donations from people so that we can raise money for worthwhile causes and they are brilliant

Pattern is as follows

You will need:

5mm straights or DPN

3.5mm straight or DPN

Any basic yarn that knits to any good DK pattern in the colours of the rainbow :)

To create the pattern effect you just mix two strands of yarn together for the rainbow effect. I change one of the strands for each section. Below is what colours I mixed if this is unclear, for each section of the glove

Colours

Section 1; Red, Orange

Section 2; Orange, Yellow

Section 3; Yellow, Green

Section 4; Green, Blue

Section 5; Blue, Indigo

Section 6; Indigo, Violet

Glove Body

Cast on 40sts with Red and Orange yarn on 5mm straights (or DPNs if you prefer to work in a round)

Knit 8 rows in K2 P2 rib across all sts

For Section 2 cut the red yarn out and add the yellow, knit next 8 rows in K2 P2 

Continue this method until you have finished section 4

Before you begin the fifth section, the first 8 stitches you get some waste yarn and knit over the first 8 stitches with it. 

You then return these stitches to the left needle and start the next section with the blue and indigo yarns. The waste yarn holds these stitches so you can come back to them later and knit the thumb.

Note: I changed the pattern from K2 P2 rib to K1 P1 rib so it's a bit roomier. If you prefer a more snug fit then continue without changing.

After you have knitted the next two sections, cast off all stitches.

Thumb

You come back to the waste yarn and pull it out from the stitches and placing them on the smaller 3.5mm needle. You should have 16sts in total, 8 in the front and back.

For straights; K1 P1 rib for the front and back stitches you have picked up from the waste yarn for 6 rows in any preferred colour combination. Once done, cast off and sew the two sides together (obviously leaving the top open) and your thumb is done

For DPNs; Pick up the stitches and knitting in the round K1 P1 rib for 6 rows and cast off

Finishing Up

Sew up the sides and weave in any loose ends! There's no strict rules with this pattern, it makes some fun gloves and leaves your fingers free for knitting

I hope you like them, I was able to finish these two gloves in about 6 hours! I like wearing them and even though they're made from acrylic yarn them keep my hands nice and warm! Also they work out dirt cheap this way. I love expensive yarn but couldn't afford the best this time!

Let me know what you think :)

100 Days

I kind of just found this out a few minutes ago but the 100 days thing by Josie Long starts today and I kind of want to take part.

The idea is that I do something once a day every day to make myself a better person. The thing I can think of which I do every day anyway is Knitting. I do like that and I thought I might knit something that is not for me, something either I can do for charity or a friend I think would be nice.

Also I might try and not leave things to the last minute. I'm going to do my best to get things done asap! I know that would make me a better person!

So yea, it's a bit of a strange way of going about it but I think that'll work

Go Your Own Way

Today is not completely about knitting - oh no!

I've been busy knitting, yes, I have new projects lined up and new things to try but I will now talk about me and my festival!

Last Thursday I headed with Stevie and Tim (and new friends) to the North, to Huntingdon and to Secret Garden Party Festival

This was my first one and everyone I talked to and met just kept saying how it's such a great "first-timer" festival. I couldn't agree more.

It was partly about the music for me, there were bands and artists I really wanted to see but it was also about the atmosphere!

Everyone who attends is in this state of mind that you can do anything you want but in a respectful way to the people and environment around you. I just bloody loved it.

It was also a bit of an awakening for me in many ways, I realised that I'm still really held down by my own judgements. I've never wanted to be a person that would judge and be biased against people and what they do. It's a bit confusing but makes sense to me. I lost a lot of pre-conceptions I had about what I thought were my opinions when really it was kind of my parents.

Now they're good people, I love them dearly but I tried to please them too much. Now I know that I don't always have to make them happy, I can do what I want and not worry about how they will react because if it makes me happy, if it's something I want to do then they should respect that.

Like dyeing my hair pink, or getting a tattoo, or just anything that takes my fancy. And I can do these things that they don't approve of, they can give their opinion but since I am 21 now I shouldn't feel like I have to always take their advice (in these instances) and they can disapprove but know I don't!

Ok, stopping all this emotional crap. Basically, the festival frakking rocked and now onto the knitting!

Hopefully I will have more things to make, a couple Totoro hats for someone in Canada, and I figured out the pattern to form the ghosts from the Pac-man game! Steve made the orange one Clyde from the game at the festival so I wanted to make him a hat, I have decided to make about *counts* 5 now! Hurrah, should keep happily knitting for a few weeks now.

I shall post pics of the hat when it's done, I quite fancy getting onto it now actually, I'm taking the pattern from my Domiknitrix book but changing a few aspects. I like the basic idea of the pattern but think I can improve it for this example! Lalala

You can go your own way
Go your own way
You an call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way

Torani No Totoro Totoro

Just to clarify, I did not make this pattern off. I found it on the haven that is Ravelry.com and really recommend having a look. This pattern can also be found here but I have adapted it and make reading the pattern simpler!

This is the Totoro hat that I am making for me and a bunch of mates. I'm thinking (since the one for Vixie is free) if anybody would like me to make one I'll charge £10 including P&P.

I've knitted loads of things so far for free, but the cost of the wool was more than I really should have spent so it's about time I make a little money.

Below is the pattern - I adapted it somewhat but it still works nicely! Also for someone who can't read patterns it should help a little bit. I explained things in more detail since for someone who isn't experienced at knitting but wants to make something other than a scarf, it helps to elaborate on things!

So you will need grey, black and white yarn that should knit to any good DK pattern. A set of 3.25 dpn (double pointed needles) and a yarn needle!

To make different sized hats the instructions are included in the pattern in brackets.
For example - 14" (16, 18, 20) will equate to CO36 (40, 44, 48) So if you wanted to make a small 14" hat you would cast on 36 stitches, but if you wanted to make a large hat measuring 20" you would cast on 48. The numbers in sequence match the sizes in sequence. I hope that's clear!

Here is a glossary of what the letters mean

CO = Cast On/Off # of Stitches
St/s = Stitch/es
St St = Stockinette Stitch
K = Knit
P = Purl
M# = Make # of stitches (there are loads of different ways to, but the best and my preferred is to just casting another stitch straight onto the needle for this project)
Inc = Increase
Dec = Decrease
R# = Round #
K2tog - put your needle through two stitches instead of one and knit
SSK - another Dec, good video here
PM = Place a marker on the needle, it can be anything from a strand of yarn tied around to ones you can buy from the stores - as long as you can clearly see it on the needle

* = if instucted you repeat the amount of times from this point

CO 36 (40, 44, 48) stitches and divide between the dpns - I put half the sts on the first needle, and split the other half on the second and third needles. You join it in a round (there is a good video here if you need help)

R1: K
R2: Inc R - *K1, M1, K16 (18, 20, 22), M1, K1* - repeat from first * once more

Repeat R1, and when doing round 2 K1, M1, then add two stitches from the previous R2, M1, K1
Repeat these two rounds until you have 80 (88, 96, 104) sts

R3: K18 (20, 22, 24) K2tog, PM, SSK, K remaining sts on all needles
R4: K R2
R5: K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip the marker over, SSK, K remaining sts on all needles
R6: K R2

Repeat R5 and R6 until you have done 5 (6,7,8) decrease rows. Then stop decreasing and repeat R1 and R2 until you 108 (116, 124, 132) sts altogether.

If you want to make the hat bigger then repeat R5 and R6 a few more times, the decrease row will be obvious on the back of the hat and should reach to the rim. Once you have enough decreases, repeat R1 and R2 a few more times just to make it even. There really is nothing fixed when it comes to knitting this hat, try a few things out and see what happens!


Here you can see the decreases on the back of the hat

Now you can make the rim which is really easy, just alternate between P and K rounds, like you would with Stockinette stitch, this will make the garter stitch rim. Make it a decent size so it will stick to your head!

Once done, Cast off all the stitches (don't cast off the top of the hat just yet, we still have the ears to do!).

You can now make a cord to hold the hat on if you like. So along the cast off edge of the hat (by the corners) pick up three stitches. When you need to pick up stitches - don't worry - it's a lot easier that I first thought. Just put your needle underneath one of the knitted stitches on the edge and place it on the needle)

Now with your dpn you are essentially knitting in a round on one needle.
K the 3 sts, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle, take the yarn tail and knit the first stitch on the right - essentially draggin the yarn across as tight as possible. Do this every time and you will start to see the cord form. There's another video here since it helps to see it happen.

K it as long as you like then CO. Make another on the opposite corner and there you go.

When it comes to making the face, you can pretty much go crazy and sew on whatever facial expression totoro is feeling today!


Today Totoro is happy!

Now for the ears! I changed them from the orginal pattern so that they look more ear-like!
Now the top of the hat should still be open, that's perfect
Have the front of the hat facing you and on your right pick up 4(5, 6, 7) sts on the front. Then on the back edge pick up the same amount on another needle. We are going to knit in a round again!

For the RIGHT EAR Start at the back needle and K2 rounds
R1: *K1, M1, K to end of needle*, * repeat on second needle
R2: K

Repeat these rounds until you have 9 (10, 11, 12) sts, then you start to Dec

R3: *K to last 2 sts, K2tog*, * repeat on second needle
R4: K

Repeat until there are only 4sts. To CO using two needles, you hold them side by side and knit through both at the same time. Here's another helpful video to help you get the idea if I'm too confusing!

Now for the LEFT EAR you pick up the same amount of stitches in the same way and start from the back needle again and K2 rows

R1: *K to last sts, M1, K1*, * repeat on second needle
R2: K

Repeat these rows until you have 9 (10, 11, 12) sts

R3: *K2tog, K to end*, * repeat on second needle
R4: K

Continue until you have 4sts and bind off in the same way you did the right ear!

Tada, the ears are done. Now if you like you can try and close the seam for the top of the hat with the 3 needle bind off technique.
To do so you turn the hat inside out, pick up the stitches inbetween the ears and bind off!
If you want the ears to stand up a bit more, you can stuff some wadding or any leftover yarn inside, you can leave the bottom seam open too if you like

And that should be about it!

So I hope you like the hat, if you want me to make you one give me a buzz or if you're looking at the pattern and thinking it's not so scary then give it a go!!!

Also any feedback on the pattern would be great, let me know if I explained it ok or if you need any clarification!

xx

Might as well face it, you're addicted to.......

Yep it's pretty obvious that I'm addicted to knitting. I thought that I would blog about all sorts of things that I liked. But nope - all I want to do it talk about knitting again.

SO SUE ME, I love it and I'm proud *Grannie Annie I am*

Now what I get sometimes is people telling me that I'm really good at knitting, but I have to explain that everybody who learns to knit is pretty much on the same level. You can't go wrong once you've learned the basics and from there on the sky's the limit!

Then my boyfriend points out how catastrophic his attempt at knitting was (it was for a charity blanket) but I still stand by my argument.

Then I look up some other knitting blogs and by gum there are some amazing people out there who do it *so* much better than me. They can form their own patterns and pretty much make all sorts of things. I on the other hand don't rightly have the funds to make lovely tops out of merino wool, or make a baby hat out of cashmere. I find it much nicer (and cheaper) to pop to my local store, buy 100% acrylic skein for £1.30, make a nice mini kimono cardi for my cousins-wife's baby girl due in September and not only is it a pretty shade of pink (yes she's having a girl) but most importantly it's machine washable. Now don't get me wrong, I really do see the benefits of knitting with *lovely* lovely wool. It's a dream to knit with and I would completely go berserk with it if I could!

However, a baby gets messy, and I like the idea of them being able to use my gift to them (which took me about 12 hours to knit) again and again without having to either cover the baby in a bib so she doesn't ruin my knitting (since that's more important) or having to wash it separately and specially which I'm pretty sure as new parents they won't really care to do.

So actually going to move on to my latest projects! I joined the awesome website Ravelry which is so unbelievably awesome, any budding or experienced knitter must join, seriously - you will not regret it.

I therefore in the past week have been knitting like crazy so that I can move onto the next cute project! I made two pairs of baby booties, the mini kimono I mentioned earlier and last night just finished a Totoro hat (which is proving quite popular with my friends and I now have about *counts* 7 more to make!)

It's been so lovely though, I've made things I never thought I could make. When I was knitting the booties, I kept thinking I was doing it completely wrong, then once I had binded off I poked it here and there are *POP* it suddenly made the shape of the boot and I may have squealed a little bit. OooooOooOOoh it was lovely.









And that's not all, I have even been changing some of the patterns. I kind of felt that some of the instructions were either over-complicated or I just preferred to do the pattern another way (one I thought was completely wrong but that's my opinion). It was really kind of cool to change it and still see my ideas work. It might mean that one day I could make something up completely and it would be something I made all by myself, not just by knitting it, but by designing it which is a little bit exciting.

That's all for today I think, I have work which means 7 whole hours without knitting :( sucks to be me. But the more I work, the more money I earn and therefore the more yarn I can buy - simples!

It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love

Whip it (Knit it gooooooood)

Bad Bad Anna

Not updating in a long time

Bad bad Anna

Anyhoo, moving on, I finally am attempting to recommend something in my blog and (surprise surprise) it's about knitting!

I've been knitting since I was about 7 and over the years have had a smourgas board of projects here and there. Mostly scarfs since it include casting on 20 stitches, kitting till you run out of wool, then casting off.


Lately though I have been expanding and testing my skills, what originally looked out of reach for me has been quite achievable. I've been trying new patterns and to my amazement, they work. I really thought that I wouldn't be able to do these things but all a knitter needs to know is knit (obv) purl, cast on/off, increases and decreases and you can do pretty much anything!

The picture is the front cover of my favourite knitting book Domiknitrix and by gum is it fantastic.

I had a hard time finding patterns that I actually wanted to make and knew I would enjoy, then I stumbled upon this book, hidden behind the patterns for jumpers and cable scarfs. When I went to buy it the girl (covered in piercings) behind the till was so jealous that I found it she took the ISBN down immediately (a secret knitter she was)

This book was what really kick-started my "hobby" into overdrive, since then I knitted the little red riding hood hoodie, the valentine candy heart pillows and now completed the winged heart bralet which I bloody adore!

I really can't emphasize how liberating this book is for a knitter, she encourages you to change a pattern if you think it's wrong, think outside the boundaries of the wool and just to enjoy it all.

I also had another side project in the works whilst I was teaching myself new knitting techniques, the first was how to knit in a round on Double Pinned Needle and it was for Katamari Ears which are just fabulous.

My fabulous friend Vixie loves Katamari and wanted a themed party, so I set myself the task of knitting some earmuffs. I though maybe one or two pairs for me and my boyfriend, I ended up getting so over-excited I knitted 6 pairs which are pictured below!





I loved knitting them all, each was different and I got to try different things, I made them out of pretty cheap wool (apart from mine since I was making everyone elses for free) and there may be oppertunity to make and sell these in the future but we'll see.

This hasn't really been the most organised of posts, I just have a passion in knitting and I love doing it and want to share it with people

As I type this I am wearing my bralet, it's too big, I knitting it with the wrong wool and it doesn't half make me look silly

But I love it, as I love knitting :)

When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When somethings going wrong
You must whip it